For the Future

Tashi Waldorf School began its 7th school year on May 9, 2006. The school has grown from 13 children in two kindergartens in year 2000 to 115 children in a nursery, three kindergartens, and classes one, two and three.

The decision to expand the school to include classes 1 to 3 was made in 2001 as the first group of children in the kindergarten was ready to enter class one. In Nepal , children learn to read and write in kindergarten whereas in Waldorf children learn to read and write starting in Class One. Therefore it was crucial that the children at TWS were able to remain at the school for the first three classes to learn to read and write in the Waldorf way and then they would be able to transfer smoothly into the mainstream education system in Nepal .

The teachers at TWS are learning not only how to be teachers but how to be Waldorf teachers on the job. We feel it is essential for them to do a second cycle of classes 1 to 3 before establishing any further classes at the school. If we do not ensure that the teachers have a deep understanding of the curriculum then the future of the school is at great risk. Therefore, for years 2005 through 2007, the teachers will take another class through and the decision whether to add classes 4 and 5 will be considered for 2008, depending on the amount of funds that have been raised for their construction.

The future's biggest challenge will be that of funding. Of the 115 children at the school, the vast majority are from impoverished families. It has been very demanding raising additional funds for operational costs each year as more children join the school. Right now many children are in need of dedicated sponsors and we rely on one-time donations for funding their tuition as we work to find more sponsors.